Some guys are gym rats, basketball junkies, hardwood fanatics who will go anywhere, anytime, any day looking for a game.

Waltham High alumnus Tom Glynn is that way when it comes to the sport, but unlike those who go to the limits to play the game, Glynn goes to them to watch people coach it.

"Every week I would go to a different camp," he remembered of his ascent through the coaching ranks. "I would go watch practices, high school practices, colleges practices Ė anywhere someone would return my emails."

That bank of knowledge helped Glynn go from a high school post at the Cambridge School of Weston and assistant job at Arlington High, to the collegiate level at Division II UMass-Lowell, to the associate coaching spot at MIT the past two years in which the Engineers won more than 20 games and earned back-to-back Division III berths.

Next year that knowledge gained through countless hours peering in on practices and learning from watching fellow coaches will serve Glynn on the Nichols College bench as the 31-year-old former three-sport†WHS standout takes over his first collegiate head coaching position.

"I didn't think it would happen this quickly," Glynn said. "But when the Nichols job opened up I contacted them and went out to the campus for an interview. When they offered me the job, it was too good to pass up."

Glynn cited the schoolís new athletic facilities, the great student and community support of the program on the Dudley campus, and the amount of students in the relatable Nichols sports management major as key reasons why he felt this was an ideal†spot to take the jump to the head of the bench.

"Itís going to be a big change," he said. "To go from an associate head coach to a head coach will be very different. But I am looking forward to putting my stamp on a program. I have an idea of what my system is going to be and what my team is going to look like."

Glynn inherits a team that won 23 games last year, but is still looking for the first NCAA Division III berth in program history. He brings back 10 players from that squad, but will have to replace the top two scorers and three starters overall from last yearís Bisons.

"I am very excited and pleased to have Tom Glynn join the Nichols College community as our next menís basketball coach," Nichols†athletic director†Charlyn Robert said in a release. "Tom has a solid basketball background from player to coach at various levels. He is well-versed in the D-III philosophy, brings outstanding character and leadership qualities to the program, and is committed to the mission and vision of Nichols College."

Page 2 of 2 - Glynn said he plans to invite other coaches to watch his practices as a way to return the favor for all the coaches who let him have a glimpse into their worlds on his way up the ladder.

"Those who come to watch our practices are going to see the three things I hope the program will stand for," he said. "Itís going to be hard work, preparation and being tough both physically and mentally."

Glynn said the first call when he accepted his first head coaching job went to his parents, who have supported him through his decision to make coaching his career, and one of the subsequent calls was to his sister, Holly, a former Waltham High and University of Columbia star lacrosse player who is currently the head womenís lacrosse coach at MIT.

"Iíve been fortunate to come from a very athletic family," he said. "Now I donít have to worry about all those family events when people ask me why my sister, who is five years younger than me, is already a college head coach and Iím not.